"My life is different after invest my transfers in farming. I opted for scaling up my farming so that I would have more income and raise money to support my family's need with no much struggles. Now the crops are doing so well, from harvests of vegetables and tomatoes. I do earn good income out of selling to my neighbors and the nearby markets which has come in handy interms of paying school fees for my children , rent and food. Looking back, I did casual jobs for a living but it was challenging to start investing in farming because my income was meager. I appreciate GiveDirectly for giving me an opportunity of improving my living standards and pursuing my passion too."

"Its an honor to live in my new decent spacious house in my own homestead . My neighbors who used to see me as a laughing stack because at my age the customs require that I should own my homestead unfortunately my resources were limited to do so. My life has changed since I am enjoying the freedom and privacy in my new homestead . Thanks to GiveDirectly ."

"Before , my husband who is the breadwinner of our family did struggle to put food on the table . As a parent I would be sadden on those days when he came home with no money meaning my children missed meals on such occasions. This is because the causal jobs he does such as transporting goods in the streets of Mombasa on the shoulder was engaging and tiring. Moreso an assurity of getting money on a daily basis depended on chances . With the motorcycle that we currently bought using GiveDirectly's transfers has lead to a big difference in my family's living standards . My husband uses it as bodaboda which he is able to save 200 KES per day to carter for our needs without taking a lot of loans from friends. I am greatful and happy since my children are able to put on decent clothes and have meals that seemed as luxury before. Thank you GiveDirectly soo much ."

"Owning a spacious and permanent house is the biggest difference in my daily life. I have been longing to build a better and more spacious house but due to my financial status, I could not afford to do that. Since I was married for over 40 years ago, I have been sleeping under a small hut which was so uncomfortable and hectic especially during the rainy seasons. My children have been sheltering at their grandmother's house which was also small. Life became so tough the time my hut collapsed. I had to sleep in my neighbor's and relatives' corridors. This has been the most embarrassing experience in my life. Actually I have never been happy in my marriage. But the coming of GD has brought up happiness."

"It was around 6 am when I head my phone ringing. When I checked what the message was all about, I realized it was an M-pesa message from GiveDirectlt indicating that they had debited my first transfer on my account. I was very happy at the moment and could not explain it."

"I vividly remember that it was around 10 PM when I heard a phone notification for the receipt of my first transfer. The feeling at that time made me see how true my dreams would be with the transfer."

"I have long been living in an open-roofed house but with the help of my elder son who is doing casual activities at Mombasa, he managed to buy for me 20 pieces of iron sheets for roofing. These pieces were not enough and he could not purchase more due to financial challenges hence, half of the roof is still open. In addition to this, I spend my nights on the floor something that gives me backaches in the mornings. My first plan is to spend at most $150 to finish roofing my house and purchasing of beddings. This will open a new chapter for my life since I have never owned a wooden bed plus a mattress. On the other hand, my second plan is to spend $2800 to buy indigenous dairy cows since they are cheap to rear and this will assure me of milk to sell when they give birth in the future. In addition, I intend to buy an oxen and ox plow to help me in upscaling my farming. Hence, a transformed life that I have long wished."

"A decent home and new beddings are generally what receiving this money means to me. Currently, I spend my nights with my grown-up children in the same house and this is culturally unethical. I am forced to live this kind of life due to being financially unstable and considering that I am a widow. The desire to own a separate and decent house has in many years gone unachieved but with the arrival of GiveDirectly to our village, my hope got renewed and I am sure of spending utmost $250 to buy iron sheets in order to roof my house which of now is at superstructure level. My other plan is to use $320 on buying an oxen and ox plow inclusively. This will assure me of maximum farm produce and hence, food security to my family."

"We had just finished taking our breakfast, around 8 am when I heard the notification from my mobile phone. After confirming it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly, I was excited that I could not afford to sleep at all. It was my first time in life receiving such a huge amount of money."

"Having a dairy cow and the goats has really changed my life. This has been my long-time dream but due to my low financial status, I could not afford to buy one. I am a widow and I have been taking care of my mother. The moment my spouse passed on, I was forced to come back home since everyone neglected me including my inlaws. This is when everything changed. I felt the best option was to come back home and take care of my old age mother. Life has been tough but the moment I received the first transfers and bought livestock, everything changed. I now get milk for my mum and I and also sell the remaining few liters. This is now my main source of income. With the few goats that I bought, I will start a business of selling the offspring at the local markets. I am so much grateful to Give Directly because I can now do some of the things I couldn't have done when I a few months before they came into my life."